Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2024

Introduction to the year 2024 survey

This report is based on the returns of an annual survey questionnaire sent to all active authorised shellfish farming businesses in Scotland. These are Official Statistics published by the Marine Directorate in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. The cooperation of the shellfish farming sector is gratefully acknowledged.

Production survey questionnaires were sent to 100 businesses registered as active during 2024 (Supplementary Questionnaire Documentation). During 2024, one business rescinded their authorisation. In 2024, two business located in the Strathclyde area did not return their data, one for common mussel production and one for Pacific oyster production. In these instances, their 2023 data was used as a substitute for 2024. When these data are obtained, the relevant sections will be updated in future reports. Data relating to production carried out in Na h-Eileanan Siar will be labelled as the Western Isles to maintain consistency with historical data sets. A single business located within the Dumfries and Galloway region continues to be included the Strathclyde regional level statistics to protect individual business information.

The survey showed that, of the 100 businesses authorised at the end of 2024, 63 recorded sales during that year. These 100 authorised businesses farmed 283 active sites, of which 178 (63%) placed shellfish on the market. Shellfish production by business and site is presented.

May 2025

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland

These statistics are official statistics. Official statistics are statistics that are produced by crown bodies, those acting on behalf of crown bodies, or those specified in statutory orders, as defined in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.

Scottish Government statistics are regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.

More information about Scottish Government statistics is available on the Scottish Government website.